Means for constructing stereochemical models



March 29, 1932. F. D. DODGE MEAN FOR CONSTRUCTING STEREOCHEMICAL MODELS Fi led March 6, 1931 Paai'tentedMar. 29, 193;;

i ISBV'ANCIS n. evan-01 33 0mm "2631i;

The present inventien'reiates to means the '7 constructing-stems chemical ni'odels for (Itemo'nstrating the pr cbable swe t relationship been jdeyiseci end used fci'"eien10nstratingthestereo chemistry of the: cerben compounds;

6f theatomsinmolecules; V I

" Heretefore numerous forms'o f models have but. the use of such ,mcde'l s has not proved 'entirely'setisifactoryl v Theyhzwe been mostly V 'ti'ens, {they reproduced imperfectly the cenditions offstr ain and equil-ibriumwhich exist in capb'cin' componncliIrr01ecules;end

tion, of a, model representing a carbon ateIh-..

edible" and misleading;

' Aec rdingtetheipresent: invention pi' r er ,ovei cenee' 'Bymeans'c'fmy'motiels,strucm j representing"meiecnles' 6f" any can i bejiepifeduced; andwhen sed mthestudy'cf {sp ding tQ the. chemical bonds: are adapted fqr' demonstrating cempcunds wherein 5 the Bonds or linkages httveen the atoms' zre' Pele will he: betten undefstood from the 'deteiie'ci description which follows me "the accomr" 31%. 21m top plen 'view of Fig. l. s

iitig. 3 is a to gles, pa 'rtl y in, sectio of 9 Chemical *compeunds;

ends; fer joining thezitomic models;

Figs 5 and/4" aresecticnstakenrespectively 5 "F gs; Q anfcI' IOI afei peispective viien s; cf

models re-jresenting" eiec nl esf different in; the form ,of tetrahedri: fof Wood; cork-er 'demonstratingthewpfoblble structure-0f cemj radi-atifngi -armsdispcs'eif to? prqvide an 1 V I v ang-1e?*0f ap roximatel "109 therebetween;

br g'anic ccnipeundsmy mocielsrace 'peitichla-r; 1y valuable 'injfthatithe' "Cbnnectien's (ferretively under no strain ore-re u'ncier ii certain" amount cf strain. The nature of themedels; the manner ofthe rusegrndthelr advantages, 2

is pushed over a sleeve Gian-e; pin B, it. will S etiaI NO. sofie'q. J r I i i I Referring first toFigsQl and of thetheW- mgs wherenilheve show-Ilia model; of a can ben at0m,-'Ie'-t-A indicatethecenter 01' nucleus which maybe-formed 'ofan-y desirabI-ematein riallffrom whieh rediates fdur arms-0'1" pins 5'5 B-,-the angle between any peinef arms 'hei'ng I approximately 109 9,; which corresponds to the theeretieal angle Between the normals ,to' the faces 0f 1, regular tetrahedron Mounted on; i i eaeh'fanm'B andfclosljfi-ttin-g thereever so as 161T to be freely rctatehle thereon;v is a "sleeve 01'. bnshingC which is heId against rem-emf from said pins 'byan enlargement at the end of each pin, whichmayfbeprovicIerIhynpsetting the i a tter er seeufin-giniany ether manner a heat- 1 thereon-. The en-Iafgenient 5, it Wi li hef. "HHdeEStGGcLE'iS offsnmller diameter sleeve feirnpnrp se which will he presently made'apparent. @j v V as 7 "Q 7 In xFig'ngfwhieh representsenefim f l' lfi g gen; the mo'clei consists 301 at. mlclens A snmlzirtoAin'l Figsil and 2,:and a pair oi i" in-g thetomsftogethefl These are prefer-v ably of standard; length. ,and normally- 1 straight. In'Fig; ,4 this connectingmieans; whichisfidesignated by the ieference. charac'te i' D}. fbrmedfrbm a metal tube end. has its ends longitudinally slitted, es indie aite'd at (Z; whereby'to provide acertain amount of" resiliencyiingsaidendssorth'at'when such end 1 vfi'ietiqnally'engage"thefsame and serve to '1 connectisaid memherstogether. In Fig; ,6

theconnectinginembefi which I. have" desig I i hated E; consistspof a closely Wound central spring member :Fi: intc [the ends of which are fitted aniheidtiibnlar'metal sections'Gg i each of which is longitudinally slitted, as indicated at g, in a manner similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4. The connecting members E are normally straight, but are capable of be ing strained into arched form to provide a connection between the arms of atoms which are not in alignment. In Fig. 8 the connecting means H is in the form of a rubber tubular element which normally has sufficient rigidity to maintain it straight, but which, like the spring F, is capable of being strained into arched form. The internal diameter at the ends of said tubular member element is such as will render it capable of frictionally engaging the bushing on an arm of an atomic member.

In molecules of the aliphatic series or in' c 'clic molecules having six or more atoms in t e ring, that is, in strainless compounds, any of the connecting elements D, E or H may be employed, and when so used will retain'their normally straight form. In the cases of molecules having three, four or five atoms in a ring, or in biand tri-cyclic combinations, the connection between the atoms are preferably made with the spring or rubber connecting elements E and H, which permit arching of the linkages, thus indicating a certain amount of strain therein.

The rotating sleeve or swivel connection between the nucleus about the axis of any arm permits free rotation of any atom or group of atoms about the line connecting their centers, thus reproducing the conditions aparently existing in actual molecules. This is best illustrated in Fig. 9, which represents a model of butane (C H the free ends of the arms each, representing a hydrogen atom. In cyclic and poly-cyclic structures this possibility of rotation allows the complete model automatically to assume the configuration of least strain, which adjustment is not obvious in rigid models.

In cyclic molecules wherein a condition of strain exists between the atoms, the elastic linkages serve to illustrate this condition remarkably well. This is plainly demonstrated in Fig. 10, which illustrates a molecule of camphor (C H O). The slight strain in the linkages between the carbon atoms A in this molecule is apparent from the slight curvature in the springs F of the linkages E connecting certain of said carbon atoms.

The value of such molecular models has been frequently impressed upon the 'applicant, and it may be safely stated that if a given structural formula cannot beeasily reproduced with the models, it is an impossible, or at least a highly improbable formula. In the development of the chemistry of the terpene series, for example, manv formulae were proposed which were not reproducible with models, and much time and energy could have been saved if this point had been considered. The formulae that have survived and are now generally accepted, are, without exception, only those that the models show to be possible and plausible.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that the models as hereinbefore described will be found instructive and suggestive in the field of the terpenes and camphors, of the sugars and their derivatives, and in the study of many of the alkaloids, etc.

The models are small and light, which characteristics permit of almost indefinite extension in complicated molecules. For examples, in the use of said molecules for the sesqui terpenes or the more complex sugars where fifteen or eighteen carbon atoms are involved, the assembled model may be conveniently suspended by wires or cords, thereby permitting the model to assume the position of equilibrium.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention and the specific application thereof to atoms of carbon and oxygen, it will be apparent that the concept underlying the present invention is equally applicable to the other elements whether they have a valence of one orv more. It will also be appreciated that to more readily differentiate and define the atoms in an built-up molecular structure, the nuclei 0 the atoms may be difl'erently colored. Hence I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction set forth, since the same may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. Means for constructing stereo chemrcal models comprising members representipfi atoms and members representing chem bonds for joining atoms, said members having cooperating parts for detachably connecting said members together, the bond members being normally straight but capable of being strained into arched form to provide a connection between two members representing atoms.

2. Means for constructing stereo chemical models comprising members representing atoms and members representing chemical bonds for joining atoms, said members having cooperating parts for detachably connecting said members together in a manner to permit free rotation of a member representing an atom with respect to a bond member, the bond members being normally straight but capable of being strained into arched form to provide a connection between two members representing atoms.

3. Means for constructing stereo chemical models comprising members representing atoms, said members each having a nuclear body and radiating arms correspondin in number to the valence of the atom, the nuc ear rotatable about the axis of an arm.

c 4. Means "for constructing stereo chemical] models] comprising members representing atoms, ,sa-idmembers eachihaving a nuclear bodyiand radiating arms corresponding in number to the valence of the atom, the nuclear body being-secured to the radiating arms and rotatable about'the axisof any of the'arms.

5. Means for constructing stereo chemical models comprising, members representing atoms,*said members each having a nuclear body and a plurality of rad ating arms cor responding innumberto the valenceof the atom, thev angle between any pair of arms being equal,'the nuclearbody being secured to 1 7; Meansthe radiating arms and rotatableqabout the axis of an arm. 7,

r 6. Means for constructing stereo chemical models comprising members representing atoms, said members eachhaving a nuclear body and rigid pins radiating therefrom,-and an element carried by and swivelly mounted V on each pin. I o l r for constructing stereo chemical r models comprising, .members representing body and vrigid pins'radiatingtherefrom,

anda sleeve swivelly'mounted ,on' each pin.

atomsfsaid members each having a nuclear 8. Means for constructing stereo chemical models comprising a-membenrepresenting a i carbon atom having a nuclearbody andfou'r ,c my name. s

the bond members being-(adapted to friction:

ally engage the radiatingarms of the memv bers'representingatoms to connect such members together.

I 12. Means for, constructing stereo chemical models comprising members "representing chemical bonds, said members each being nor- '7 mally straight and having a portion intermediate its ends which is deformableunder strain, and the ends of said membersbeing ,c capable offrictionally engagingan element whichthe. member is adapted to hold.

13. Means for constructing stereo chemical models comprising members representing chemical bonds, said members being normally straight and having a portion intermediate r 7 their ends which is deformable under strain," a ,7 the ends of each of said members beingtubu- 1 lar and capable of frictionally engaging an element which the member is adapted to hold.

arms radiating from said nucleus, the angle;

between any pair of arms being approximately 109, th'enu'clear body beingrotatable i I '5' about the axis of any of the arms. f

9. Means forlconstructing stereo chemical models comprising ameinber representing a V I carbonatom having anuclear body and four" arms radiatingfrom nuclear body, the length of said. arms being equal and the angle 'be- I tween any pairvof arms belng approximtely 109.

ins 1 10. Means for constructing stereo chemical 1 models comprisingmembers representing atoms and members representing chemical bonds; for joining atoms, said f members representing atomseach comprising a nuclear v 7 body and a plurality of radiating arms corresponding in numberto the valence of the atom, and sand bond members being of equal length and normally straight, the ends of In witness whereof, IhaVe hereunto signed 7 FRANCIS 1). DODGE. a

I the bond m'embersbeing adapted to fric- I 1 tionallyengage; the radiating arms of the members representing atoms to connect such members together.

' models comprising imembers representing atoms and: members representing chemical;

11. Means for constructing-stereo chemical 7 bonds for joining atoms, said members repre- 1 senting atoms each comprising a nuclear body and a plurality ofiradiating arms correspondc p ing in number to the valence of the atom, the;

nucleus beingrotatable about the axis ,ofyan' I,

'arn'nand said'bond members being of equal length and normally straight; but capableof being strained into arched form, the ends of 

